The number of triathletes in the United States has grown significantly since the sport was founded in California in the 1970s. According to USA Triathlon, membership in the organization has increased from approximately 20,000 in the 1990s to 135,000, as of 2011. A short-course triathlon offers the rigors of the Ironman multisport event but in an abbreviated version.
Basics
Triathlons combine three distinct sports into one event. Athletes compete by swimming, biking and running to complete a race. The Ironman race is well-known and considered by many athletes to be the ultimate in triathlon competition. Participants swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and finish by running a 26.2-mile full marathon. The Ironman is often abbreviated by athletes to 140.6, the total distance traveled during the race. For those who find this distance too daunting, there are alternatives, including the short-course triathlon.
Short Course
Distances may vary in a short-course triathlon, which is also known as the international or Olympic-distance triathlon. The name came from the standard triathlon distance used in the world championships and then was solidified when the triathlon was added to the 2000 Olympics. The distance consists of a 1.5-kilometer swim, a 40-kilometer bike ride and a 10-kilometer run. These distances are equal to about a one-mile swim, a 24- to 25-mile bike ride and a 6.2-mile run.
Additional Distances
For beginners or those looking for a shorter race, sprint-distance triathlons were introduced in the 1980s. These races are approximately half the length of an international-distance race, though it can vary. Generally, a sprint triathlon consists of a 1/4- to 1/2-mile run, a 10- to 13-mile bike ride and a 3.1-mile run. Anyone not ready for a full Ironman, but who wants to step up from the international distance, can try the half-Ironman. Just like it sounds, this is half the distance of the full Ironman. The half-Iron may be referred to as a 70.3.
Other Multisport Races
Triathlon has expanded to offer options for nearly every type of athlete. For those who feel their swim is weak, duathlons are available at all common triathlon distances. These races consist of a run, a bike ride and another run. The aquathlon eliminates the bike portion of the race and may be a run-swim-run or a swim-run. Aquabike races are becoming more popular, particularly among athletes who cannot run due to injury. The races consist of a swim portion and a bike ride.
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